AIR SHOW CANCELED – Valley City, ND (KCSi-T.V. News)  —  A tragic air accident Friday (Sept 7,2012) claimed the life of Bob Odegaard and led to the cancellation of all Saturday & Sunday events at the Wings and Wheels Airshow  in Valley City.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol Sgt Troy Hischer reports that at about 5:45 p.m. pilot 66 year old, Bob Odegaard, of Kindred, lost his life when he was practicing to perform in the show at the Barnes County Airport.  (photo of crash from NDHP)

 

Authorities says the plane was in a barrel roll, when his aircraft, a 1945 Super Corsair went down. (photo below shortly after completion Odegaard flew No 74 at Reno 2011 – photo credit Kevin Grantham  – airrace.com/corsair74)

 

An investigation is being  conducted on the scene by the Federal Aviation Administration to determine if the crash was mechanical, or a pilot error.  The airport is closed to all activities.

Barnes County Airport Authority, Chairman, Dennis Helland, says, aircraft on the ground were damaged by shrapnel. 

He said pilots scheduled to perform on Saturday, now, do not want to perform.  The air show may be rescheduled, when the pilots feel ready to fly.

Robert Odegaard was owner/operator of Odegaard Aviation of Kindred, ND.

Video of SUPER CORSAIR RACE 74 FIRST FLIGHT – KINDRED, ND – from Odegaard Aviation website.